Abstract: Densify powdered materials, either ceramic or metal or both, at temperatures of 1400.degree. C. or higher using a fluid die fabricated from a mixture of alumina and a calcium aluminate cement. The fluid die may be separated from a fluid pressure-transmitting medium by a barrier material such as graphite foil.

Abstract: 1. A novel process for preparing beryllium hydride and aluminum hydride which comprises;A. adding a solution of beryllium borohydride to a solution of lithium aluminum hydride such that the ratio of lithium aluminum hydride to beryllium borohydride on a gram mole basis ranges from about 2 to about 5 and precipitating beryllium hydride in the resulting mixture, the solvent for said lithium aluminum hydride and beryllium borohydride being a liquid material inert to the reactants and products and dissolving said beryllium borohydride and lithium aluminum hydride but being a substantially non-solvent for beryllium hydride,B. separating said solid beryllium hydride from the reaction mass,C. stripping said solvent from the residual reaction mixture,D. heating the resulting substantially dry product mass at an elevated temperature of from about 45.degree. to about 140.degree. C. for a period of from about 0.25 to about 24 hours, andE.